Ghazali Shafie Dies

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- Former Home Minister Tun Ghazali Shafie died from old age at his home in Wangsa Baiduri, Subang Jaya, near here, Sunday night.

Ghazali, 88, died at about 7.45pm, according to his nephew Adam Azman.

Ghazali's remains were then taken to the home of his younger sister Datin Yuhanis Shafie in Damansara Utama.

Adam said his late uncle's remains would be bathed and prepared for burial, and the funeral prayer performed at the Al-Mujahiddin Mosque in Damansara Utama at 8am Monday.

Another funeral prayer would be held at the National Mosque before Zohor Monday. The late Ghazali will be buried at the Warriors' Mausoleum near the National Mosque.

Ghazali who was born in Kuala Lipis in 1922, leaves two sons, Bachtiaer and Sheriffudin.

His wife Toh Puan Khatijah Abdul Majid died in April 2008.

Ghazali was a politician who served during the era of Malaysia's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman to the fourth, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He was called "King Ghaz" as he was very stern in carrying out his tasks.

He joined the Persatuan Melayu Pahang (Pahang Malay Association) in 1946, initially focusing on social welfare work and then venturing into politics by joining Umno and holding various positions in the party from 1958.

He was made Senator from 1970 to 1972. He contested the Lipis parliamentary seat in 1974 and won uncontested.

He was also Kuala Lipis Umno division head and Umno Supreme Council member, and won the Umno vice-president post in 1981.

He began his service with the government in 1941 as a member of the Malayan Voluntary Force.

In 1961, he was appointed as project officer and a member of the Cobbold Commission in 1962 for the formation of Malaysia.

Ghazali joined the Cabinet when he was appointed Minister with Special Functions in 1970, and in 1971 he was given the information portfolio in addition.

In 1973, he was made Home and Information Minister and in 1981, was appointed Foreign Minister before resigning from the Cabinet in 1984.

After leaving government service, Ghazali joined the private sector and was the chairman of a number of corporate companies including Paremba, Landmarks Holding Bhd and MUI Finance.

In sports, he was president of the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union from 1962 to 1988.

On Jan 10, 1982, Ghazali who was then Foreign Minister, escaped death when the Cessna aircraft he piloted from Kuala Lumpur enroute to Kuala Lipis crashed in Kampung Janda Baik. His personal bodyguard and the co-pilot were killed in the incident.